Elevated stop indicator lights for passenger bus

Abstract

An elevated stop indicator light system for vehicles such as school buses comprises a translucent or transparent tubular housing having a strip of light emitting diodes extending therethrough, the housing being secured to a drip rail extending along and above side and / or rear windows of the vehicle by clips fastened to the vehicle. Operation of the elevated light system is coordinated with conventional warning devices, such as a fold-out stop sign and flashing red lights of the bus. The elevation of the stop indicator light system provides a highly visible warning system for surrounding traffic when the view of the conventional warning sign on the side of the bus is obscured by traffic.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 364,252, filed Jul. 14, 2010, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates to a warning system for vehicles and, in particular, to a supplemental warning light system for buses.[0004]2. Background & Description of the Related Art[0005]School buses are used extensively throughout the United States for transporting school children to and from school and school-related activities. Although the safety records of school buses have improved, accidents still occur when the school children exit or enter the bus. A substantial problem is that children exiting a school bus and wanting to cross the roadway face the hazard of being struck by other vehicles traveling on the roads. Regulations in most areas of the United States, Canada, and other countries require school buses to activate flashing yell...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Although the safety records of school buses have improved, accidents still occur when the school children exit or enter the bus.

A substantial problem is that children exiting a school bus and wanting to cross the roadway face the hazard of being struck by other vehicles traveling on the roads.

It has been found that due to the heights of many vehicles, conventional warning signs that extend from the sides of school buses are not always visible to drivers of adjacent vehicles.

Rather, due to the heights and locations of the conventional warning signs, view of the signs are often obscured by neighboring vehicles such as vans, sports utility vehicles and the like.

While the lighting strip may assist loading and unloading passengers, cars stopped alongside the bus will likely obscure the lights from other traffic.

However, neither discloses the placement of an LED strip or flexible electroluminescent light source strand mounted around the periphery of the side windows of a vehicle to elevate the warning system above neighboring traffic.

These systems are not designed to notify surrounding traffic of children loading on or unloading from the school bus.

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